Delivery on road turns a trend as ambulances remain elusive

Baripada: Once again, proving the tall claims made by the state government about schemes for expectant mothers for safe delivery a misnomer, a woman delivered baby on road in Khetra Patana area of Baripada district Sunday night. The woman was being taken to hospital in a bicycle.

According to reports, a pregnant woman from Suliapada Nuagaon here complained of labour pain following which her husband decided to carry her to the hospital in his bicycle due to lack of any other mode of transportation.

Though a few locals, sighting the couple, wanted to help them and called up 108 and 102 ambulance services, it did not yield any result. Since the woman’s pain intensified, she reportedly delivered a baby boy on the road.

However, she was taken to hospital in an ambulance that reached hours later.

“I informed 108 and 102 ambulances but they said no vehicle is available till next half an hour. We informed the CDMO about the incident, who also assured the ambulance would soon reach the spot but nothing happened. As the hospital is located hardly 5-6 kms away, it is sad when ambulances don’t reach even after 30 to 45 minutes of receiving a call,” said a local.

However, recently, the incident where a doctor came to the rescue of an expectant mother in a remote place of Malkangiri hogged the limelight. The doctor not only reached the woman in pain after getting an SOS call from her family members but also carried the woman and the newborn on a cot for 8 kilometers along with others after her condition deteriorated post delivery.